Convertible sweater construction



April 23, 1968. J. I. FIERST CONVERTIBLE SWEATER CONSTRUCTION Filed June1, 1965 United States Patent 3,378,853 CONVERTIBLE SWEATER CONSTRUCTIONJeannette I. Fierst, Great Neck, NY. (Rm. 200, 545 th Ave., New York,N.Y. 10017) Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,155 1 Claim. (Cl. 2--90)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A convertible sweater construction havingselectively attachable sleeves interconnecting to respective armholes inthe body of the sweater, the armholes being provided with concealing andprotecting means in the form of a flexible band which may be folded andretained in folded condition around the edge of the armhole, to concealthe interconnecting means associated therewith.

This invention relates generally to garments, and more an improvedsweater construction which is especially adapted to multi-seasonal wear,or varying style effects.

Some garments of this type may have a substantial cost, particularlywhen expensive wools or fibers are used, and where fur decorativeelements are involved. It is therefore among the objects of the presentinvention to provide garment construction in which the garment may have,at the selective wish of the wearer, a choice of long sleeves, shortsleeves, or no sleeves.

Detachable attaching means utilized to provide this interchange, and itis another object of the present invention to have means of concealingthe detachable attaching means while the garment is being worn.

The detachable attaching means have projections which can make a roughcontact with the wearers skin, to irritate or abrade the same, and it isa still further object of the present invention to protect the wearersskin from such deleterious action.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, as worn, with the garment having full sleeves.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view corresponding generally to FIGURE1, but showing the garment having short sleeves.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view corresponding generally to FIGURES1 and 2, but showing the garment as a sleeveless garment.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 4--4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 5-5 on FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 66 on FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the convertible sweater, generallyindicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a body element12; a sleeve element 14; first detachable attaching means 20; concealingand protecting means 22; and second detachable attaching means 24.

The body element 12 may be of any suitable construction, for example, ofthe type illustrated, having a front panel 26, side portions 28 and 30,and a rear panel (not shown). The neck opening 32 may be provided with acollar, such as the fur collar 34. In the shoulder areas of the sideportions 28 and 30, the body element 12 is provided with a pair ofarmholes 36 and 38.

3,378,853 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 As may be seen by a perusal of FIGURES1, 2, and 3, there are provided a pair of long sleeves 14, and a pair ofshort sleeves 16. The sleeves 14 and 16 are preferably composed of thesame material as the body 12, but where desired, for styling or otherpurposes, they may be made of difierent material or even color. Eachsleeve has a lower end, such as the lower ends 18 and 19, and also hasan upper end which may be referred to as an upper free sleeve edges 15and 17, respectively. Thus the armholes 36 and 38 at their free bodyedges thereat have a perimeter which matches the perimeter of the saidedges 15 and 17.

The first detachable attaching means 20 are preferably in the form of adetachable slide fastener 21 having first and second slide fastenerelements 40 and 42, on stringer tapes 44 and 46.

The concealing and protecting means 22 is in the form of a flexible band23,.composed for example of textile ribbon. It is of a width sufficientto conceal the juncture at the opposed spaced edges 37 and 39 formed bythe connected slide fastener elements 40 and 42 and the adjoining tapes44 and 46. The band 23 is also of a width sufiicient to be foldedinwardly upon itself so that it may completely enclose the slidefastener elements 40. In length the band 23 is suificient to equal theperimeter of the edges 37 and 39. Other materials may be used for theband 23, such as for example ribbon composed of thermoplastic resinfibers which can be preformed to have an elastic memory causing it tocurl or bend inwardly into the position it takes in FIGURE 3 and asshown in FIGURE 5. Where this reaction of the ribbon is strong enough,the second detachable attaching means may be omitted.

The second detachable attaching means are preferably in the form of wellknown snap fasteners in pairs, thus the means 24 seen on FIGURE 5 mayinclude male first member 25 and a female second member 27. The malemembers 25 are secured in a suitable manner as by cementing or selfriveting to the under surface of the band 23 while the female members 27are similarly affixed to the under surface of the tape 44. Wheredesired, the members 27 may be shifted inward of the edge 37 and thiswill require a greater width in the band 23.

As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the means 22 in the form of the band 23is connected to the body element 12 inwardly of the edge 37 preferablyby a plural row of stitches 48 which also serves to connect the tape 44t said body element 12. The sleeve 14 has the tape 46 connected theretoat the edge 39 by another row of stitches 50.

The first detachable attaching means 20 may take the form of differenttypes of slide fasteners, such as metal element, synthetic resinelement, and metal wire or synthetic resin wire types. It is of courserequisite that the short sleeves 16 have a matching set of fastenerelements corresponding in construction and organization with theelements 42 (FIG. 4).

The use of the present convertible sweater construction is a simple andconvenient matter. Assuming the garment to be in the condition shown inFIGURE 1, to change to shorter sleeves, it is only necessary to operatethe separable means 20, remove the sleeves 14 and to substitute thesleeves 16, reengaging the corresponding slide fastener elements whichare secured upon tape 46' which is attached to the sleeves 16. Theconcealing and protecting means again covers the first detachableattaching means 20, presenting the appearance shown in FIGURE 5.

When it is desired to wear the garment 10 as a sleeveless garment, themeans 20 is disengaged, and either the long sleeves 14 or the shortsleeves 16 are removed. Where band 23 is of the preformed type having anelastic memory, it will'curl or bend into the position shown in FIGURES3 and 5. Where the band 23 is equipped with the means 24, the first andsecond members 25 and 27 are interengaged, and the parts will take thepositions shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, so that not only is a neat finishedappearance provided at the edges 37, but the slide fastener elements 40are prevented from contacting the skin on the wearers arms, andirritation and abrasion are avoided.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates.

I claim:

1. Convertible sweater construction comprising: a body element having anarmhole with a free body edge; a sleeve element of predetermined lengthand having an upper free sleeve edge; detachable attaching means with afirst element and a second element; said first element being connectedto said free body edge, said second element being connected to saidsleeve edge; concealing and protecting means in the form of a flexibleband extending over and beyond said attaching means, said concealing andprotecting means being connected with said body edge; said hand beinginwardly foldable and having means for maintaining the same in foldedcondition, whereby upon disengagement of the detachable attaching means,said sleeve element may be removed, and concealing and protecting meansfolded inwardly shielding the first element from view and from contactwith the skin of a user; said band being comprised of a thermoplasticresin preformed to have an elastic memory to bend inwardly upon itself.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,826 1/1933 Stramiello 21262,677,131 5/1954 Shuster 2-90X FOREIGN PATENTS 608,323 9/1948 GreatBritain.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

